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Dallen Stanford, former International Sevens star from the USA, gives UR7s weekly updates from the States. Dallen will be reporting on tournaments, teams, players and the state of the game in America.

Belmont Shore played excellent rugby to win the Las Vegas Midnight 7s tournament this weekend, becoming the first team to qualify for the USA National Club Sevens tournament as well as the newly formed USA Sevens Championship Cup Series, and in the process won $2,000 in prize money.

The Nevada desert saw 12 teams challenge for the main competition, including: 6 Brave Souls (Canada), Back Bay, Belmont Shore, Country King Browns (Australia), El Paso Scorpions, Fort Collins Flamingos, MTC Rugby (England), Old Blues RFC, Olympic Club, OMBAC, RuckU Spartans (England) and Tempe.

OMBAC were unbeaten in pool play and met Las Vegas in the first semi final, showing all the class of a great side scoring tries at will. It was a polished performance from the San Diego team, posting a 40-5 win. Belmont Shore also emerged unscratched and faced Tempe in the second semi final. Kickoff retention was again key to success, with aggressive defense and patient attack, seeing a 38-10 victory.

The Las Vegas Midnight Sevens final was billed as another classic; rivals OMBAC and Belmont Shore battle for Southern California rugby supremacy with plenty of sevens Eagles in action. A huge defensive effort from Belmont Shore meant OMBAC hardly breached their line, managing just one score from Alex Ross. Belmont absolutely dominated the 20 minute final scoring 8 superb tries via Clint Whittler (3), Cory Blair (2), Peter Sio, Dallen Stanford and Sinipati Ulagalelei. The final score was Belmont Shore 50 OMBAC 5, with Whittler taking the MVP Award scoring a total of 11 tries.

The remaining four USA Sevens Championship Cup Series tournaments, each worth $2,000 prize money, are: Cape Fear Sevens (July 4-5th); The Denver Sevens (July 11th); Kansas City Blues Sevens (July 24-25th) and the New York Sevens (November 28th). The finalist from each of the 5 tournaments plus 2 wild card entries will form the 12 teams competing for the final of the Championship Cup that will be played in San Diego on February 13th and 14th 2010. The eventual 2 finalists will play at Petco Park during the successful and popular IRB USA Sevens tournament.

www.pakiscorner.com